302 mellow recipes

Vegan unstuffed bell pepper soup with brown basmati rice, tomato paste, and loads of diced peppers in a savory tamari broth. All the flavors of stuffed peppers without the stuffing.

Italian sausage, sweet peppers, onion, and a whole head of garlic roast together until caramelized, then toss with penne and a tangy roasted-garlic balsamic dressing. Great hot or as a room-temp pasta.

A scrumptious and cheesy potato croquettes recipe that is great for entertaining friends or family.

Okra shoyu-zuke quick-pickles thinly sliced raw okra and onion in rice vinegar and soy sauce. Three-ingredient Japanese refrigerator pickle ready in minutes for rice bowls and bento.

Baked polenta grits triangles topped with a fresh cilantro and tomato sauce spiced with cumin and chili powder. A light vegetarian main dish or hearty brunch option.

Five-alarm salsa made with tomato purée, green chilies, onion, garlic, and lime, then water-bath canned for shelf-stable pantry heat. Five ingredients, two pints, serious kick.

Warm rice salad with marinated artichoke hearts, mushrooms, Parmesan, and scallions in a tangy artichoke vinaigrette. A fresh, no-cook side dish.

Canned sardines warmed in white wine over a soft fennel and onion relish. A simple, elegant Mediterranean-style fish dish using the sardine oil for cooking.

Warm brie melted over fresh herb sprigs, scored in a diamond pattern and ringed with baby pear tomatoes. A quick microwave appetizer served with crusty French bread for scooping.

Fresh tuna and red potato salad dressed with low-fat yogurt, red wine vinegar, and cumin instead of mayo. Grilled yellowfin tuna, celery, and parsley make this a lighter, protein-packed main dish salad.

It's hard to resist these addictively delicious cookies. Oats, shredded wheat, and dates add extra goodness. Feel free to use half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour. The result is as yummy.

Six kinds of beans baked in a sweet-tangy brown sugar and vinegar sauce, topped with crumbled bacon and crispy fried onions. A potluck-ready side dish that feeds a crowd.

Vegetarian five-pepper chili with three dried beans, fresh tomatoes, and dry-roasted spices. A meatless chili built on jalapeno, Hungarian, Cuban, and cheese peppers for layered heat.

Well, this is NOT non-fat, but is low fat. It's kind of a Schezuan sauce I guess, of my own invention. If I could figure out how to avoid using the oil it would be non-fat.

Slow cooker sweet and sour turkey with pineapple, mandarin oranges, and colorful vegetables over fluffy rice. Set it, forget it, and come home to dinner.

Louisiana red beans and rice with kidney beans, andouille sausage, tasso ham, and pickled pork, thickened with file powder. A chef-level Creole classic with layered smoke and spice.